<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/IMG_1818.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1142" alt="IMG_1818" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/IMG_1818-290x290.jpg" width="290" height="290" /></a><a title="Medical Assisting Program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-assistant/" target="_blank">Clinical and Administrative Medical Assisting</a> students at the <a title="SJVC Bakersfield" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/bakersfield/" target="_blank">Bakersfield</a> campus have been working hard these last few months to raise money through bake sales and food sales for <i>The Forgotten Initiative </i>for their local Kern County Foster Children agency. Spearheaded by the CAMA Club, fundraising activities brought in over $1,000. so far for “Journey Bags”, backpacks that are filled with necessities for those infants and children transitioning from an unsafe home to foster care.

Evening CAMA students did such an incredible job of raising the greatest share of money for the bags that “the CAMA Club wanted to give something back to the evening students for their support and donations to this important cause,” says Steven Prince, CAMA instructor and Club Advisor. They decided to surprise them with a ‘Thank-you Dinner’ to show their appreciation.  Almost 150-students and faculty enjoyed hot dogs, chips, sodas and home-made desserts. Evening CAMA student, Pristina Moreno, couldn’t remember day students ever providing dinner for evening students, so it was quite a treat for all.

The fundraising has been so successful that the CAMA Club has decided to extend fundraising for <i>The Forgotten Initiative’s </i>Journey Bags until the end of April. The backpacks are filled with items such as toothbrush and toothpaste, towel, wash cloth, body wash, socks, blanket, a stuffed animal (for younger kids) and a journal for older kids to express their thoughts, fears and hopes for their future. Each backpack also includes a personal note written by a CAMA student, offering encouragement.

The CAMA Club is looking forward to presenting a number of filled Journey Bags to the Kern County Foster Children agency at the completion of the campaign.